The parting salute, with cheer upon cheer, Was answered, ’till sound died away on the ear, And nothing was heard but the murmuring deep Of the wings’ measured stroke inviting to sleep. We glided as swift on the ocean’s expanse As the leaves that in the wild hurricane dance. The sea glowed with fire from creatures unknown, Brighter far than the stars in the zenith they shone. And myriad flocks of strange sea birds lay On the face of the deep, awaiting the day. No moon rose that night, but e’re twilight was gone, The sky seemed to glow with a rich northern dawn, And not ’till our flag in the morning breeze swayed. Did its soft lambent light from the firmament fade. Thus for three days and nights we skimmed the blue main, Now watching the air ships again and again, Now noting far down in the green, glassy brine,-- Iron vessels with fins--a submarine line, Propelled by galvanic action alone, And made to explore ocean’s chambers unknown. Meantime I conversed with some that I knew Came from far distant climes, new wonders to view, Of the change wrought on earth since the era began When Christ reigned supreme, acknowledged by man. No pen could describe nor could language declare The glory His saints were permitted to share, When the devil and all his foul works were destroyed, And happiness dwelt in each heart unalloyed. “But how,” I inquired, “was the old world renewed? In a day by Omniscient fiat made good? Or purged in long years from sin and its leaven, ’Till God saw on its bosom the image of heaven?” “As a thief in the night breaks in unaware, So flashed on the earth, mid its pleasure and care, A splendor surpassing the sun’s noontide ray Foretelling the dawn of millenial day. Attended by thousands of saints came the Lord, To bless his redeemed and to drive the abhorred. As erst he once drove the angels that fell From allegiance, down from high heaven to hell. But ’till then, increased both evil and good, As men a false phantom or true peace pursued. Though tales of new crime thrilled the ear and the soul, The spirit of prayer seemed its power to control; Reform spread, as years rolled rapidly by, And at last from all races beneath every sky, With shouts of thanksgiving and praises again Earth echoed the cry, “Alleluia! Amen!” But the soft evening wind that our light bark swept o’er, Flower-scented, announced we were nearing the shore, And ere night’s somber curtain had veiled the red sky, The glare of bright lamps arrested the eye. ’Twas a populous city of wealth and of fame, Filled with thousands of every class, country and name. I passed through the streets--no tumult was there, No low profane words polluted the air. No theatre belched out at midnight a throng Inflamed with drugged wine and lascivious song;